Brands Hatch - Free practice (1)

Jason Plato leads the way for MG in bitterly cold conditions as practice for the BTCC season opener at Brands Hatch gets underway.

The MG mans heads a trio of Honda racers, with Gordon Shedden, Andrew Jordan and Jeff Smith following behind.

The session sees the on-track debut for the Team HARD. VW Passat CC in the hands of Tom Onslow-Cole, while team-mates Jack Goff and James Cole also hit the circuit in the their Vauxhall Insignias after the team wins its race against time to get the cars ready for the first round.

eBay Motors also runs its third car in anger for the first time after Rob Collard's shakedown run earlier in the week.

Amongst the Jack Sears Trophy entrants, Joe Girling is quickest in his Chevrolet.

Dave Newsham and David Nye are amongst those to hit issues; the former losing coolant in his Toyota and the latter suffering an electrical fire in his Ford Focus.

1. Jason PlatoMG KX Momentum RacingMG6 GT48.510secs
2. Gordon SheddenHonda Yuasa RacingHonda Civic48.665secs
3. Andrew JordanPirtek RacingHonda Civic48.725secs
4. Jeff SmithPirtek RacingHonda Civic48.762secs
5. Colin TurkingtoneBay MotorsBMW 125i M-Sport48.978secs
6. Matt NealHonda Yuasa RacingHonda Civic49.156secs
7. Frank WrathallDynojetToyota Avensis49.170secs
8. Rob AustinWix RacingAudi A449.452secs
9. Rob CollardeBay MotorsBMW 125i M-Sport49.469secs
10. Dave NewshamSpeedworksToyota Avensis49.489secs
11. Nick FostereBay MotorsBMW 125i M-Sport49.549secs
12. Aron SmithAirwaves RacingFord Focus49.566secs
13. Dan WelchWelch AutomotiveProton Gen-249.624secs
14. Mat JacksonAirwaves RacingFord Focus49.686secs
15. Adam MorganCiceley RacingToyota Avensis49.712secs
16. Sam TordoffMG KX Momentum RacingMG6 GT49.725secs
17. Ollie JacksonSpeedworksToyota Avensis49.784secs
18. Joe GirlingM247 RacingChevrolet Cruze 51.253secs S
19. Warren ScottBMR RestartSEAT Leon 51.402secs S
20. Jack GoffRCIB Insurance RacingVauxhall Insignia54.777secs
21. James ColeRCIB Insurance RacingVauxhall Insignia 54.860secs
22. Lea WoodWheel Heaven/Houseman Racing Vauxhall Vectra 54.901secs S
23. Liam GriffinAddison Lee MotorbaseFord Focus 57.737secs S
24. Tom Onslow-ColePPCGB.com/Kraftwerk Racing Volkswagen CC58.393secs
25. Will BrattWix RacingAudi A41min 00.541secs
26. James KayeAmDTuning.comVolkswagen Golf No time S
27. David NyeWelch AutomotiveFord Focus No time S

S denotes S2000 car in the Jack Sears Trophy